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Challenge 2b: The European Roadmap
J. Wood, ESFRI Chair
The European Roadmap: status of the process, implementation of the first Roadmap
Autumn 2006 saw the publication of the first ever European Roadmap for Research Infrastructures, a result of two years of intensive work. Many of the projects on the Roadmap have a planned lifespan of several decades and many of the projects are of a scale and scope that requires a global approach. ESFRI is continuing its role as an incubator for the decision-making and negotiating process with exploratory discussion related to the realisation of the projects. Most of the projects have already started a preparatory phase process that will bring
them to the construction agreements between the interested stakeholders.
E. Curtius, ESFRI delegate
Lessons learnt and update mechanism
The presentation will focus on the experiences of the ESFRI process in the area of Biological and Medical Sciences. The procedures implemented for the identification and selection of new and/or major upgrades of existing research infrastructures will be presented with regard to successful and promising approaches. Perspectives for the realisation of the Pan European research infrastructures in question will be presented. Obstacles and the respective problem solving strategies will also be considered with respect to the continuous update of the Roadmap process.
W. Los, University of Amsterdam, Manager of the LIFE WATCH project
LIFE WATCH – a distributed international infrastructure for biodiversity research
The planned Life Watch research infrastructure will bring together existing and new biodiversity data resources in combination with analytical and modelling tools in a digital laboratory environment. It will contribute to our understanding of the complexity of biodiversity, and it will also allow the development of novel approaches to understanding and managing our living environment. Biodiversity data originate from selected monitoring sites, biological collections, and from established services (i.e. GBIF). Users will benefit from the computational capabilities of the digital laboratory. As such, data provision and scientific use is not restricted to Europe. The implications of this architecture will be discussed.
T. Sakata, Executive Director of the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (RIKEN), Japan
RIKEN’s view of European and Japanese research infrastructures
RIKEN is the only comprehensive institute for research in the natural sciences in Japan. One of our missions is to “establish a research infrastructure of the highest standard for the research community and provide opportunities for its use”. As an Executive Director of RIKEN, I have been deeply involved in planning and developing our new research infrastructures. I would like to speak on the following four topics:
• RIKEN’s views on the EU Roadmap for research infrastructures;
• Strategic and prioritized development of facilities and equipment in Japan and Japan’s 3rd Science and Technology Basic Plan;
• RIKEN’s current infrastructures, including cooperation with EU institutions;
• The X-ray Free Electron Laser and the Next-Generation Supercomputer project, both of which started last fiscal year.
